Distritct 1 Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold shared information about a survey her office is conducting regarding Public Safety and Health on Alki.
Herbold writes:
"As a beachside neighborhood and regional destination, the Alki neighborhood and nearby areas face unique public safety and health challenges, from Beach Drive to the West Seattle Bridge. Residents, community groups, and visitors from elsewhere have expressed concern about the public health and safety impacts of a growing number of motor vehicle-related issues and behaviors.
The summer may almost be over, but community members have asked me to ask you to help us prioritize for the remainder of the summer and plan for next year which vehicle and driver behaviors listed below are of greatest concern. If you live, work, or play at Alki, please consider completing the Alki Public Safety and Health Survey. Your input will help influence community awareness, guide policy, and assist long-term planning and enforcement priorities. Results will be shared with the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Department of Transportation.
The survey includes links to the relevant City laws.
Issues I’ve heard about include speeding, cruising, noise, vehicle racing and others, including the following points:
- Speeding: Research indicates slower vehicle speeds increase pedestrian safety. Pedestrian safety is very important in an area simultaneously serving as a place to live, shop, work, and recreate.
- Cruising: cruising generates traffic congestion, air pollution, noise, and can hinder emergency vehicle responses
- Vehicle noise: exhaust noise from vehicles with modified mufflers, compression brakes that are not effectively muffled (can be a sign of poor brake maintenance), screeching from rapid acceleration (does not include rapid braking to avoid imminent danger), and sound systems.
- Non-visible front and rear license plates and vehicle window tinting hinder the ability of the public and officers to rapidly identify vehicles and individuals when needed
- Vehicle idling: long-term idling can result in air pollution.
The survey allows you to note any additional issues you’d like to bring up.
